Has anybody added an outbound stopover to NRT or HKG from PVG to avoid the visa?

Post #2271 mentions overnight stops in HKG and NRT, so you should be able to engineer something similar on your outbound. With NRT you could get NH or CA flights, HKG though you'll be stuck with KA.

I'm not nearly as comfortable as 110pgl pushing the issue on the 3rd country transit rule, but then again I usually posses a 1 year multiple entry visa for China anyway since I tend to go there on long weekends a few times a year. There are conflicting reports on that and certainly some FTers have been told they need a visa to turn around to the same country. You're at the mercy of the check in agent and/or supervisor, if they say no, then you're not going anywhere. Now once you get there, it won't be an issue anymore, I've never had the transit counter immigration in any Chinese airport ask where I came from... all they care is that I have an onward boarding pass out of China and then put the hexagon stamp in my passport.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudleydog

Do you need a visa just to visit china?

Only 3 countries are exempt for China visa for tourist visits up to 15 days: Japan, Singapore, and Brunei. All other countries need a visa for a regular visit. Many countries are exempt if in transit, that rule varies depending on your passport and which airport.

+1. In fact, I would say that this advice crosses the line between bad and awful/deplorable. While it's possible to trick them or get lucky, the rules are VERY clear on this matter.

The rules are very clear. This is allowed. No tricks. No getting lucky. The rules are VERY clear on this. (Just did this two weeks ago... AA.) My visa ended in April and I have been visa free since then, two MR in that time. (Both times agent just asked to see/check the return and I was good to go.)

That being said, you may run into people on the airline who are not knowledgeable and you may need to show them the appropriate rules which can be a hassle. (Even if you are respectful.) So if you are going to do this run more than once, you may want to opt for the visa to simplify your life.

The rules are very clear. This is allowed. No tricks. No getting lucky. The rules are VERY clear on this. (Just did this two weeks ago... AA.) My visa ended in April and I have been visa free since then, two MR in that time. (Both times agent just asked to see/check the return and I was good to go.)

That being said, you may run into people on the airline who are not knowledgeable and you may need to show them the appropriate rules which can be a hassle. (Even if you are respectful.) So if you are going to do this run more than once, you may want to opt for the visa to simplify your life.

deplorable? A bit over the top.

Insofar as PRC TWOV is concerned, passengers are only eligible if they are in TRANSIT from one country to another.

The reason I call "deplorable" is because anyone who takes your advice is likely to be denied boarding or turned back if they happen to make it to China. (If I worked for an airline, I'd bounce anyone who tried to board a straight up RT sans visa in a heartbeat.)

I have been on top of these TWOV threads on FT ever since the program was kicked off, and have become intimately familiar with the rules in the process... and, read many sob stories in the process.

Insofar as PRC TWOV is concerned, passengers are only eligible if they are in TRANSIT from one country to another.

The reason I call "deplorable" is because anyone who takes your advice is likely to be denied boarding or turned back if they happen to make it to China. (If I worked for an airline, I'd bounce anyone who tried to board a straight up RT sans visa in a heartbeat.)

I have been on top of these TWOV threads on FT ever since the program was kicked off, and have become intimately familiar with the rules in the process... and, read many sob stories in the process.

Reading is one thing, doing is another.

While I respect everyone's opinion, FT is littered with many (too many) I heard, I read, my secret brother-in-law knows a guy...

Not sure why you would "bounce" someone who is not doing anything wrong. Would you bounce someone who was going to Germany without a visa? (It is not needed there.) How about Russia? They are very strict there on visa's there - more so than China, but, MR turns in DME are done all the time there without a visa. Why? Because it is allowed.

The visa is simply not needed, as long as you leave China within 24 hours. Period. No exceptions.

The vast majority of airline agents know the visa rules. The few that don't are always enlightened by a supervisor. (Especially when you treat them with respect.) Never a problem.

As for entry into China, a boarding pass within 24 hours and a valid passport have always been the only things needed. Never in dozens and dozens of trips has a Chinese immigration official ever asked to see the boarding pass of my inbound flight. It is irrelevant. All they want to know is how long you will stay.

But again, anyone who is worried should get a visa. Just as anyone worried about security lines should get to the airport super early. Not needed, but if it makes you feel better, do it.

Moderator - please delete these posts (including this one) and lets get back to premium fares.

I am Chinese and I clearly remember that two years ago I read on a newspaper someone got fined on a US-PVG-US immediate return. Of course it's his stupidity to tell the immigration that he's doing US-PVG-US for miles without a visa since in practice most people doesn't care. But still, it's a YMMV situation.

I am Chinese and I clearly remember that two years ago I read on a newspaper someone got fined on a US-PVG-US immediate return. Of course it's his stupidity to tell the immigration that he's doing US-PVG-US for miles without a visa since in practice most people doesn't care. But still, it's a YMMV situation.